Wheeled toy



A1 1945- J. J. .DAHLsTRoM 2,398,290

WHEELED TOY Filed Sept. 22, I 1944 INVENTOR.

ohn J Dahlsirom,

ATTORNEX Patented Apr. 9, 1946 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE WHEELED TOY John J. Dahlstrom, New Orleans, La.

Application September 22, 1944, Serial No. 555,353

2 Claims.

This invention relates to toys and more particularly to a wheeled toy and it consists in the constructions, arrangements and combinations herein described and claimed.

It is a particular object of the invention to provide a toy constructed to resemble different forms of animal life in which legs of the subject appear to propel it upon a surface when moved therealong.

More specifically it is an object of the invention to provide a wheeled toy, upon the body portion of which freely swinging legs are mounted, the body portion being raised and lowered with respect to a supporting surface by means of a single or a pair of eccentrically mounted wheels, allowing the legs to swing in a manner to simulate a walking or hopping motion.

Additional objects, advantages and features of invention will be apparent from the following description and accompanying drawing, wherein:

Figure l is a side elevation of a toy constructed in accordance with the invention.

Figure 2 is a vertical section on the line 2-2 of Figure 1.

Figure 3 is a view similar to Figure 1, illustrating the raised position of the legs.

Figure 4 is a vertical section On the line 4-4 of Figure 3.

Figure 5 is a top plan view of Figure 1.

Figure 6 is a side elevation, partly in section,

illustrating a modified form of the toy.

Figure '7 is a vertical section on the line 1-4 of Figure 6.

Figure 8 is a view similar to Figure 6, illustrating the invention embodied in a different form of animal.

Attention is first invited to Figures 1 to 5 of the drawing, wherein the toy is supposed to simulate a cricket, the body portion Ill of which has mounted at a forward low portion, a shaft H upon which there are mounted wheels l2 of small diameter.

Adjacent the rear of the body ill, a transverse opening is formed, receiving a shaft M of a diameter less than the opening. Upon respective ends of the shaft [4 a wheel [5 is securely fixed,

the shaft being mounted eccentrically in each wheel. The shaft I4 is located above the horizontal level of the shaft l2 and it will be noted that the front end of the body is disposed forwardly of the wheels l2, thus acting as a counterbalance to the rear of the body, allowing the wheels IE to rotate freely.

Fixed upon respective sides of the body [0 to the rear of the axle H, there is an arm I6,

extending rearwardly at a suitable inclination so as to dispose the free terminal end I1 at a point beyond the periphery of the wheels I5. The ends I! are each formed with an opening receiving a pintle [8 for mounting of a swinging leg 19. The swinging leg 19 is of such length as to remain in contact with a supporting surface, throughout rotation of the wheels l5.

At the front end of the body a pull cord 20 is secured for the purpose of drawing the toy along a surface, and in operation, when the toy is moved forwardly from the position shown in Figure 1, the wheels l5 being eccentrically mounted, will gradually raise the rear portion of the body, allowing th swinging legs l9 to move forwardly until the top dead center of eccentricity ofthe wheels has been reached, and thereafter will momentarily remain stationary until the wheels turn to lower the body at which time the legs will tend to drag while the body continues to move forward. When movement of the toy is continuous and fairly rapid, the body appears to b propelled by the swinging legs and at the time that top dead center is passed, a lunging effect is produced. Further animation of the toy is produced by reason of the loose mounting of the shaft l4 within the body, effecting a wobbling motion.

In Figures 6 to 8, a modified form of eccentric wheel and mounting is shown. In these forms, the body It] is formed with a vertically extending opening or slot 2| within which an eccentric wheel 22 is rotatably mounted upon a shaft 23. Thus a single eccentric wheel can effect operation of the device. Also in these figures the rear legs 2-4 are pivotally mounted upon a high portion of the body, as indicated at 25.

.While I have shown and specifically described preferred forms of the invention, I consider as my own all such modifications as fairly fall within the scope of the appended claims.

Iclaim:

1. A wheeled toy having a body simulating the form of an animal or the like comprising front wheels, eccentrically mounted rear wheels for raising and lowering the body upon a supporting surface upon rolling movement of the toy, an arm fixed upon respective sides of the body at a forward portion thereof and extendin rearwardly at an upward inclination, each arm terminating beyond the rearmost periphery of the eccentrically mounted wheels, and a link member pivotally connected to the terminal end of each arm, each link being of a length to contact the supporting surface so as to assume forward and rearward movements under rolling movement of the toy.

2. A wheeled toy having a body simulating the form of an animal or the like comprising front wheels, eccentrically mounted rear wheels for raising and lowering the body upon a supporting surface upon rolling movement of the toy, an arm fixed upon respective sides of the body at a forward portion thereof and extending rearwardly at an upward inclination and a link member pivotally connected to the terminal end .of each arm, each link being of a length to contact the supporting surface so as to partake of forward and rearward movements under rolling movement of the toy.

JOHN J. DAHLSTROM. 

